Apple fails to block Samsung Galaxy S smartphone and tablet sales in the U.S.

Apple failed to convince a California court to halt Samsung Galaxy S device sales in the U.S., although it could still come out on top when the case goes to trial in 2012

A California judge has denied Apple’s request for an injunction against Samsung’s line of Galaxy S smartphones and tablets. “It is not clear that an injunction on Samsung’s devices would prevent Apple from being irreparably harmed,” Judge Lucy Koh said in in a legal ruling Friday that could have massive implications on the two companies’ international battle.

Samsung and Apple have been battling it out in a patent/design war for most of 2011. Apple argues that several Galaxy S smartphones and tablets infringe on its iPhone and iPad designs. The company has been working extremely hard to block sales of some Samsung devices since the dispute began.

In a brief filed earlier this year with the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California, Apple argued that Samsung’s mobile devices closely copied the iPhone and iPad in look, UI and even packaging. Apple said that Samsung chose to copy Apple’s technology, UI and style in their family of Galaxy S devices, rather than innovate and develop its own technology.

While Apple has more than 20 cases pending internationally against Samsung, the California ruling is still a definite set back. The ruling effectively blocks Apple’s request that sales of three Samsung smartphones, plus the Galaxy Tab 10.1, be stopped in the United States.

A full trial is slated to begin in the summer of 2012, so the case is far from over.